San Antonio's Wentworth would be moderate choice for Texas Lt. Gov.

AUSTIN {AP} Jeff Wentworth, known in the Texas Senate as a strong advocate of open government, has emerged as a candidate in the race to replace the lieutenant governor.

A moderate Republican, Wentworth, 59, of San Antonio touts his successful efforts to open government records and meetings to the public, holding that taxpayers have a right to know what politicians are doing and saying about public policy.

His efforts in the 1999 legislative session included passing a bill that requires some government staff meetings be open to the public.

Described as a "genuinely nice" and experienced lawmaker by many familiar with the Capitol, Wentworth has shown he can vote independent of his party and could be the moderate choice that Senate Democrats could support.

In 1999, he was the only Republican to vote against requiring parental notification before a minor girl has an abortion, calling it bad public policy "for us ... to say, 'You must have children that you don't want.' "

The parental notification bill passed and was ultimately signed into law by Gov. George W. Bush.

Unlike Sen. David Sibley, considered by some as frontrunner for the post, Wentworth kept up his politicking during the controversial days over the presidential vote count and the uncertainty whether the lieutenant governor's job would even be open.

He cast himself as one of the two or three favorites for the job. He dismissed the idea that a split Republican majority could result in a Democrats taking the job.

The Republicans will unite behind one of their own, he said. "I just don't see any Republican voting for any Democrat," Wentworth said

Wentworth, was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1988 won his Senate seat in 1992.

He graduated from Texas A&M before earning a law degree from Texas Tech University.